Device for testing tubing



SEARCH R063 Ci -IO'SS EEFERENCE Sept. 1, 1959 NELSQN EI'AL 2,902,094

DEVICE FOR TESTING TUBING Filed July 9, 1957 FIG.

INVENTORS.

FIG. 3.

NORMAN A. NELSON, GRAYDON E. BARROW,

FIG- 2.

ATRN

United States Patent DEVICE FOR TESTING TUBING Norman A. Nelson, Genoa, and Graydon E. Barrow, League City, Tex., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company, Tulsa, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Application July 9, 1957, Serial No. 670,789

Claims. (Cl. 166-103) The present invention is directed to a device for testing a tubing string. More particularly, the invention is directed to a device for testing a tubir igmtring and for removing debris from a well. In its more specific aspects, the invention is concerned with a device suitable for use in low pressure squeeze cementing operations.

The present invention may be briefly described as a tubing testing device which comprises a tubular member having a bore which is free of obstructions. The tubular member is provided with means, such as threads, on its upper end forconnecting the tubular member to the lower end of a tubing string, such that the tubular member forms part of the tubing string. The lower end of the tubular member is provided with a cutting means or surface for use in removing solid detrital material such as sand and other debris from a cased well. A seating member is sealingly and releasably connected at an intermediate point within the tubular member and is adapted to receive a plug member, such as a ball, which may be arranged in a cage in the tubular member, or preferably is inserted in the tubing string for seating on the seating member. The tubular member is formed to provide means intermediate the cutting surface and the seating member for circulating fluid out of the tubular member when the tubular member is resting on solid material in the cased borehole in which the tubing string is arranged. The tubular member may provide the circulating means by forming the tubular member with a truncated lower end such that the lower end is truncated oblique to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member and the tubing string.

The circulating means may also suitably be a port or a slot formed by the tubular member intermediate the cutting surface and the seating means to allow circulation of fluid through the tubular member and out through the port or slot above the cutting edge.

The seating member is suitably an annular seating member which is sealingly and releasably connected within the tubular member at an intermediate point by a frangible means such as shearable retaining screws which extend through the wall of the tubular member and into the seat member for releasably connecting the seat member within the tubular member. The seat member is provided with a recess in which is arranged a sealing member, such as an O-ring, or other sealing means, which may be chevi'on packing, and the like, for sealing between the seat member and the wall of the tubular member. It may be desirable to provide the seal within the wall of the tubular member rather than in a recess in the annular seat member, although the latter is preferred. The plug member, which may be in the form of a sphere, is adapted to seat on the seating member, and the seat member and the plug are both adapted to be pumped out of the lower end of the tubular member on shearing or rupturing the frangible means which releasably connects the seating member within the tubular member.

As noted before, the tubular member is connected to and forms part of the tubing string and preferably has a bore free of obstruction other than the releasably connected seating member. In other words, when the seat ing member is removed from the tubular member, the

Patented Sept. 1, 1959 tubing string and the tubular member present an open bore.

The present invention is quite useful and advantageous in that it allows testing of tubing where low pressure bradenhead squeeze cementing operations are conducted. Prior to the present invention, tubing leaks frequently resulted in wells being junked duringlifadenhead cementing operations due to inability to reverse circulate excess cement from the well due to the circulating fluid being by-passed through the tubing leak. In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to test the tubing without removing same and thereafter to circulate cement and other material from the well.

The present invention will be briefly described by reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-secti0nal view of a preferred embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a view taken along the lines 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a modification of the device of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a still further modification;

Fig. 5 is a view in partial section of the device of Figs. 1 and 2 attached to and forming part of the tubing string; and

Fig. 6 is a cutaway view of the lower end of the device of Fig. 5 showing the annular seating member released from the tubular member and dropped in the well.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, in which identical numerals will be employed to designate identical parts, numeral 11 designates a tubular member provided with internal threads 12 in its open upper end for threadedly connecting the tubular member 11 to the lower end of a tubing string 13. The lower end 14 of the tubular member 11 is truncated oblique to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 11 and forms a cutting surface 15 and provides an opening 16 through which fluid may be circulated out of the tubular member 11. Releasably connected within the tubular member 11 is an annular seating member 17 provided with a seating surface 18. The seating surface 18 is designed to receive and seat a plug member 19 which preferably is of a spherical shape, to close the passageway 20 and to cut off circulation through the tubing string 13 and the tubular member 11.

The annular seating member 17 is provided with a recess 21 in which is arranged a sealing member, such as an O-ring 22, to form a seal between the inner wall of the tubular member 11 and the outer wall of the annular member 17. The annular member 17 is releasably connected to the tubular member 11 by means of shearable retaining screws 23, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1. These shearable retaining screws 23 extend through the wall of the tubular member 11 and are accessible on the outer surface thereof. The shearable screws 23 are threaded within the annular seating member 17 and releasably connect the annular seating member 17 within the tubular member 11 at an intermediate point therein.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the modified form of the tubular member 11 is provided with an annular seating member 17. Rather than the tubular member 11 being truncated, as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, in this embodiment of the present invention, the tubular member is provided with toothed cutters 25 on its lower end and is provided with a circulation slot 26, such that fluid circulation may be achieved when the cutters 25 are resting on the bottom of the well or on a body of solid material in the well.

Referring now to Fig. 4, a further modification of the tubular member 11 is shown in which the lower end of the tubular member 11 is provided with a milled cutting edge 27 and circulation ports 28 are provided intermediate the cutting edge 27 and the annular seating member 17. The ports 28 allow circulation of fluid when the cutting edge 27 is resting on bottom or on a body of solid material.

Referring now to Figs. and 6, the tubing string 13 having the tubular member 11 attached thereto by threads 12, is arranged in a casing 29 cemented in borehole 30 by cement 31. The annular space 29a between the tubing 13 and the casing 29 is closed by a wellhead connection 32 with means provided to allow rotation of the tubing 13 with the testing device 11 connected thereto. Connected to the wellhead 32 is a conduit 33 controlled by valve 34 communicating with the annular space 29:: and connected to the upper end of the tubing 13 is a conduit 35 controlled by valve 36. A lubricator or stuifing box 37 controlled by valve 38 is connected to the tubing 13 by a flange 39.

In employing the device of the present invention as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, it may be assumed that a body of sand, such as 40, has accumulated in the casing 29 through perforations 41 in the casing 29 and cement 31 from the formation 42 and it is desirable to seal the perforations 41. In order to squeeze cement the perforations 41, it would be necessary to remove or lower the body of sand 40. To this end fluid circulation may be established down the tubing 13 by flowing a fluid through the conduit 35 and then upwardly through the annular space 29a and outwardly by conduit 33, causing a sand washing operation. At times it may be desirable to circulate the sand washing fluid down the casing annulus and up through the tubing. Thereafter, a tubing testing plug, such as a ball plug 19, is inserted either through the lubricator 37 or the conduit 35 and pumped downwardly to seat on the annular seating member 17. Suificient pressure is imposed on the tubing 13,1;- determine whether or not leaks are present in the tubing 13. Thereafter, if the test is satisfactory, pressure is increased a sufiicient amount to shear the shearable screws 23, which causes the seat 17 to drop downwardly and be pumped out through the opening 16 and to drop onto the lowered body of sand 40, as shown in Fig. 6. Thereafter, a body of cement may be flowed into the tubing string 13 and formed below the tubing 13 to seal the perforations 41.

When the body of sand 40 or other solid material in the casing 29 is not easily removed by washing action, the tubing 13 may be suitably rotated by means known to the art to allow the cutting edge 15 to assist in the washing out of the sand.

The device of the present invention has been used extensively in many commercial wells, both in testing and removing sand and debris prior to successful cementing operations. The invention is thus of considerable value, advantage and utility.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what We wish to claim as new and useful and secured by Letters Patent 1. A tubing testing device which comprises, in combination, a tubular member, means on the upper end of the tubular member for connecting it to the lower end of a tubing string, a cutting edge formed on the lower edge of the tubular member, and a seating member sealingly and releasably connected at an intermediate point within said tubular member and adapted to receive a plug member separately introduced into said tubing, wherein the lower end of the tubular member is cut away below said seating member and intermediate said cutting edge and said seating member for circulating fluid out of said tubular member and to provide communication between the interior of the tubular member and the exterior thereof.

2. A tubing testing device which comprises, in combination, a tubular member, threaded means on the upper end of the tubular member for connecting it to the lower end of a tubing string, a cutting edge formed on the lower edge of the tubular member, and an annular seating member sealingly and releasably connected at an intermediate point within said tubular member and adapted to receive a plug member separately inserted in said tubing string, wherein the lower end of the tubular member is truncated oblique to its longitudinal axis below said seating member and intermediate said cutting means and said seating member for circulating fluid out of said tubular member and to provide communication between the interior of the tubular member and the exterior thereof.

3. A tubing testing device which comprises, in combination, a tubular member, threaded means on the upper end of the tubular member for connecting it to the lower end of a tubing string, a cutting edge formed on the lower edge of the tubular member, and an annular seating member sealingly and releasably connected at an intermediate point within said tubular member and adapted to receive a plug member separately inserted in said tubing string, wherein the wall of the lower end of the tubular member is formed to provide a port below said seating member and intermediate said cutting means and said seating member for circulating fluid out of said tubular member and to provide communication between the interior of the tubular member and the exterior thereof.

4. A tubing testing device which comprises, in combination, a tubular member, threaded means on the upper end of the tubular member for connecting it to the lower end of a tubing string, a cutting edge formed on the lower edge of the tubular member, and an annular seating member sealingly and releasably connected at an intermediate point Within said tubular member and adapted to receive a plug member separately inserted in said tubing string, wherein the wall of the lower end of the tubular member is formed to provide a slot below said seating member and extending intermediate said cutting means to a point below said seating member for circulating fluid out of said tubular member and to provide communication between the interior of the tubular member and the exterior thereof.

5. A tubing testing device which comprises, in combination, a tubular member, threaded means on the upper end of the tubular member for connecting it to the lower end of a tubing string, a cutting edge formed on the lower edge of the tubular member, a seat member, shearable retaining screws extending through the wall of said tubular member at an intermediate point and into said seat member for releasably connecting said seat member within said tubular member, said seat member being adapted to receive a plug member separately inserted in said tubing string, said seat member and said plug member being adapted to be pumped out of the lower end of said tubular member on shearing said shearable retaining screws, sealing means arranged in a recess in said seat member for sealing between said seat member and the wall of said tubular member, wherein the lower end of the tubular member is truncated oblique to its longitudinal axis below said seat member and intermediate said cutting means and said seating member for circulating fluid out of said tubular member and to provide communication between the interior of the tubular member and the exterior thereof, said tubular member having an open bore when the seating member is released from the tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,043,343 Nevins Nov. 5, 1912 1,163,867 Shaffer Dec. 14, 1915 1,193,468 Okell Aug. 1, 1916 2,202,461 Nash May 28, 1940 2,352,744 Stoddard July 4, 1944 2,688,370 Best et a1. Sept. 7, 1954 2,696,262 Powers Dec. 7, 1954 2 ,833,354 Sailers May 6, 1958 

